Richard Newman of Ascot

Year:

2017 - 'La Paloma'. Labelled, named, dated and signed by the maker.

Body:

Bird's eye maple - beautiful timber in a 4-piece back with beautifully, evenly-distributed bird's eye figuring, framed with contrasting purfling and rosewood bindings.
There is no dalbergia rosewood content in this instrument so no CITES certification or permits are required wherever it is sent.

Schaller Grandtune with glossy side-plates and square black buttons mounted on a head faced with bird's eye maple.

Scale:

65cm with 19 frets on an ebony fingerboard

Neck Width:

52mm at the nut with 43 mm string spacing.

Weight:

1435 grams

Condition:

New. All shellac french polished.
Looks very attractive.

Comments:

Richard Newman is consistently producing persuasive quality instruments that sound good and look good. This one is a zero-dalbergia content instrument; very relevant since all rosewoods were added to Appendix II of the CITES regulations. Made in traditional manner and style, they have seven fan-struts, generally as Torres. The workmanship and finish is very pleasing and most importantly, they have refined musical qualities. These hand-crafted instruments are a very good buy with refinement and sublety at a price that is very competitive.
This one has an air resonance around F# which gives a strong depth of bass, yet has a good treble, nicely in balance with the bass and middle. The bass sound character of this and other recent Newman guitars has a distinct similarity in my ear, to many Romanillos guitars.
Richard's guitars have been bought by some good players and have come to the attention of and been recommended by tutors at some of the main colleges and conservatoires.